From left, University of California, Berkeley student Shannon Thomas, 21, former student Nicoletta Commins, 22, and student Aryle Butler, 20, prepare to speak during a press conference at the Graduate School of Journalism in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. Thirty-one female students have filed a federal complaint against the university, claiming Cal violated federal anti-discrimination laws by failing to protect them against sexual harassment and assault. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group/MCT)
With the passing of SB 967 “Yes Means Yes” in 2014, colleges and universities throughout California have begun to reform old policies and practices.
This includes outlining the need for an affirmative consent from all individuals involved in sexual activity, as well as requiring incoming students to attend informative presentations on sex, consent and reporting assault.
The movement to end sexual assaults on college campuses continues to rely on the conversation between students. Even with legislation and policies in place, it is the responsibility of college students to deconstruct the mentality that this conversation is not important and to realize the need for reform.
According to the President Barack Obama’s proclamation of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in 2014, “an estimated one in five women is sexually assaulted in college.”
Although Citrus College’s Clery report released in 2014 shows only one sexual assault in 2013, the fact that Citrus’s student population is 52 percent female makes this statistic alarming.
However, change is possible.
After our student body accepts that sexual assault is a prevalent issue, we must keep the conversation going. Campus campaigns to educate students on various platforms regarding sexual assault are a first step.
Student led campaigns, such as “It’s on us,” which calls on bystanders to intervene before sexual assault occurs, have worked to put power in the hands of students.
These campaigns spread the message that students hold responsibility in taking an active step against assaults on campus.
This must continue.
Citrus students need to take advantage of presentations and workshops offered on campus.
Annual Sex 101 Weeks, organized by ASCC, provides multiple opportunities to learn information, covering topics from “What is consent?” to how students can file sexual assault complaints.
The Health Center is another venue students are able to learn more about what makes healthy relationships and how they can help spread awareness of vital resources.
Ultimately, the core of this movement is putting an end to rape culture.
Rape culture can be defined as the societal mindfulness that rape is not as serious as individuals make it out to be. This culture allows for rape jokes and for talking about rape victims in a joking manner.
Rape culture also permits the mentality that an assault is somehow the fault of the victim, often times preventing victims from reporting their assaults.
However, this ideology must end, and we need to think about sexual assaults with a intentional thoughtfulness.
In order to end this, students need to curve their conversation about sex throughout campus. Instead of viewing others as sexual objects, there needs to be a level of respect for all bodies.
Citrus College, along with all other educational institutions, should be a safe place for students where they fear sexual assaulted. “Yes Means Yes” being institutionalized allows for students to feel safe on campus, knowing that there are policies set to protect them and their rights.
In particular, the California Community College (CCC) system stands as the forefront of power. With 2.1 million students in the CCC system, we hold the potential to create incredible change, and the time is now.
